Heat dissipation assembly

ABSTRACT

A heat dissipation assembly has a containment apparatus preventing unwanted migration of a thermal interface material to surrounding areas on a bottom surface of a heat sink. The heat sink includes a base and a plurality of fins extending from the base. The base defines two elongated grooves at two opposite lateral sides thereof, respectively. The containment apparatus includes a plate located below the thermal interface material and an annular frame extending upwardly from edges of the plate and attached to a periphery of the base of the heat sink. The frame defines two inserting ribs projecting inwardly from inner walls thereof and correspondingly inserting into the grooves of the base.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates generally to a heat dissipation, and particularly to a heat dissipation assembly having a containment apparatus for containing a thermal interface material.

2. Description of Related Art

Electronic devices such as central processing units (CPUs) generate considerable heat during normal operation, which, if not properly dissipated, can deteriorate operational stability and damage associated electronic devices. A heat sink is often directly attached to a top surface of an electronic device to remove heat therefrom. Gaps formed between the heat sink and the electronic devices reduce heat transfer efficiency. To ensure consistent and effective contact between the electronic device and the heat sink, a thermal interface material such as thermal grease is often applied to a surface of the heat sink. Conventionally, the thermal grease is spread onto the heat sink just prior to attachment of the heat sink to the CPU, since its semi-fluid state at ambient temperature promotes easy removal and contamination by dust or foreign particles before the heat sink is assembled to the CPU. This operation extends the time needed for said attachment. To overcome the above problem, various containment apparatuses have been developed. By using the containment apparatus, the thermal grease can be applied to the heat sink in advance, thereby simplifying the process of attachment of the heat sink to the CPU. However, the containment apparatus is attached to the heat sink by applying an adhesive strap to thereby preventing detaching therefrom. The adhesive must be cleaned from the heat sink before the heat sink is attached to the CPU. This is unduly inconvenient.

What is needed, therefore, is a heat dissipation assembly providing a containment apparatus which can reliably engage with the heat sink and prevent the thermal grease from unwanted migration to surrounding areas or contamination by dust or foreign particles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A heat dissipation assembly has a containment apparatus preventing unwanted migration of a thermal interface material to surrounding areas on a bottom surface of a heat sink. The heat sink includes a base and a plurality of fins extending from the base. The base defines two elongated grooves at two opposite lateral sides thereof, respectively. The containment apparatus includes a plate located below the thermal interface material and an annular frame extending upwardly from edges of the plate and attached to a periphery of the base of the heat sink. The frame defines two inserting ribs projecting inwardly from inner walls thereof and correspondingly inserting into the grooves of the base. The thermal interface material is applied on a bottom of the base. The containment apparatus cooperates with the base to form a space for securely enclosing the thermal interface material therein.

Other advantages and novel features of the disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the present device can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present device. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a heat dissipation assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an inverted view of the heat dissipation assembly in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an assembled view of the heat dissipation assembly in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a containment apparatus 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the disclosure, a heat sink 20 and a thermal interface material 30 are shown. The thermal interface material 30, such as thermal grease, is applied on a bottom surface of the heat sink 20. The containment apparatus 10 is attached to a bottom of the heat sink 20 and covers the thermal interface material 30 therein.

Also referring to FIG. 2, the containment apparatus 10 comprises a plate 12 and an annular frame 14 extending upwardly from edges of the plate 12. The frame 14 consists of six elongated sidewalls 140 interconnected together and respectively extending vertically and upwardly from six corresponding edges of the plate 12. The sidewalls 140 are attached to a periphery of a base 22 of the heat sink 20 fitly. In this embodiment, the plate 12 is hexagonal in shape. The frame 14 has a hexagonal configuration, wherein two of the sidewalls 140 are inclined. A plurality of protruding ribs 142 respectively projects inwardly from one sidewall 140 located between the two inclined sidewalls 140 and another sidewall 140 parallel and opposite to the sidewall 140 for reinforcing an attachment of the frame 14 and the base 22 of the heat sink 20. The protruding ribs 142 are perpendicular to the plate 12. Two elongated inserting ribs 144 respectively project inwardly from another two parallel opposite sidewalls 140 for engaging with the base of the heat sink 20. The two inserting ribs 144 are parallel to the plate 12 and located adjacent to an upper end of the frame 14. The frame 14 further comprises an annular flange 16 extending outwardly and horizontally from the upper end thereof for abutting the bottom surface of the heat sink 20 around the base 22 thereby more hermetically sealing the interface material 30 in the containment apparatus 10.

Also referring to FIGS. 3-4, the heat sink 20 is integrally made of metal with high heat conductivity such as copper, aluminum or alloys thereof. The heat sink 20 comprises the base 22 and a plurality of fins 24 extending from the base 22. The thermal interface material 30 is uniformly applied to the bottom surface of the base 22. Two horizontal arms 26 respectively extend outwardly from two opposite sides of the base 22, and two slantwise arms 28 extend upwardly and outwardly from a top side of the base 22. The fins 24 comprises a plurality of first fins 240 extending upwardly from the base 22 and inner surfaces of the two slantwise arms 28 and a plurality of second fins 242 extending horizontally and outwardly from outer surfaces of the two slantwise arms 28 respectively. The first fins 240 are perpendicular to the base 22 and spaced from each other. The second fins 242 are parallel to the base 22 and spaced from each other. The base 22 has a shape the same as that of the plate 12 of the containment apparatus 10 and defines two elongated grooves 222 respectively at two opposite lateral sides thereof for correspondingly receiving the inserting ribs 144 of the containment apparatus 10 therein. The grooves 222 extend along the two parallel lateral sides of base 22 and are parallel to the bottom surface of the base 22. The inserting rib 144 of the frame 14 has a configuration in complement with that of the groove 222 of the base 22, thereby the containment apparatus 10 can engage with the base 22 of the heat sink 20 fitly and tightly.

In assembly, referring to FIGS. 1-4 again, the containment apparatus 10 is disposed on the bottom of the heat sink 20 and covers the bottom surface of the base 22 on which the thermal interface material 30 is applied. The sidewalls 140 of the containment apparatus 10 are snugly attached to the lateral sides of the base 22 to correspondingly position the plate 12 over the bottom surface of the base 22, so the containment apparatus 10 cooperates with the base 22 to form a space 18 securely enclosing the thermal interface material 30 therein. Thus, the thermal interface material 30 is prevented from unwanted migration to surrounding areas and contamination by dust or foreign particles. Meanwhile, the inserting ribs 144 of the containment apparatus 10 are correspondingly and engagingly received in the two grooves 222 of the base 22, and the protruding ribs 142 of the containment apparatus 10 tightly abut against the periphery of the base 22, whereby the containment apparatus 10 can be reliably attached to base 22 of the heat sink 20.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A heat dissipation assembly, comprising: a heat sink comprising a base and a plurality of fins extending from the base, the base defining two elongated grooves at two opposite lateral sides thereof, respectively; a thermal interface material applied on a bottom surface of the base of the heat sink; and a containment apparatus mounted on a bottom of the heat sink, comprising a plate located below the bottom surface of the base and a frame extending upwardly from edges of the plate and having two inserting ribs protruding inwardly from inner walls thereof, wherein the frame is attached to a periphery of the base and the two inserting ribs are engagingly received in the grooves of the base.
 2. The heat dissipation assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inserting ribs are elongated and parallel to the plate.
 3. The heat dissipation assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plate has a shape the same as that of the base, and is parallel to the bottom surface of the base.
 4. The heat dissipation assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame consists of a plurality of elongated sidewalls interconnected together and respectively extending upwardly from corresponding edges of the plate.
 5. The heat dissipation assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the two inserting ribs respectively projects from two parallel, opposite ones of the sidewalls.
 6. The heat dissipation assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the frame further defines a plurality of spaced protruding ribs projecting inwardly from other sidewalls.
 7. The heat dissipation assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the protruding ribs are perpendicular to the plate.
 8. The heat dissipation assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the grooves are parallel to the bottom surface of the base.
 9. The heat dissipation assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat sink has two horizontal arms respectively extending outwardly from two opposite sides of the base, and two slantwise arms extending upwardly and outwardly extending from a top side of the base.
 10. The heat dissipation assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises an annular flange extending outwardly from a top end thereof, the flange abutting the bottom of the heat sink around the base.
 11. A heat dissipation assembly comprising: a heat sink comprising a base and a plurality of fins extending from the base, the base having a plurality of lateral sides wherein two opposite ones of the lateral sides define two elongated grooves therein, respectively; a thermal interface material applied on a bottom surface of the base of the heat sink; a containment apparatus attached to a bottom of the heat sink, comprising a plate and a frame extending upwardly from edges of the plate; wherein the frame consists of a plurality of sidewalls correspondingly attached to the lateral sides of the base, two elongated inserting ribs respectively project inwardly from two opposite ones of the sidewalls of the frame and correspondingly inserting into the two grooves of the base, and a plurality of protruding ribs project inwardly from other ones of the sidewalls of the frame and abutting against corresponding lateral sides of the base of the heat sink.
 12. The heat dissipation assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the base has a shape the same as that of the plate.
 13. The heat dissipation assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the protruding ribs are perpendicular to the plate.
 14. The heat dissipation assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the grooves are parallel to the bottom surface of the base.
 15. The heat dissipation assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the inserting ribs are parallel to the plate. 